The time Ochako spent packing her belongings at UA to moving into her very own apartment was such a blur to her.

Third years in UA were privileged enough to get paid during their internships, and with the hard earnings of her part time job during summer break, she could finally pay for her first month's rent and groceries.

Her time to find a job that could pay well was short. She had many jobs offers to respond to by the end of the week, so she thought of consulting Gunhead and getting some advice from her first mentor.

The girls helped her move in as some of them were going to go back home before moving out and finding their own apartments.

Her apartment was small but homey, as Ochako phrased it. It was in a safe neighborhood, and ideally situated so that there was an equal distance to most of the job offers she received, not to mention there was an amazing mochi shop around the block.

After moving a few furnishings and boxes, most of the girls left except for Mina who claimed she had time to kill.

"So…" Mina drawled out while they sat together on the couch.

Ochako's brow rose skeptically. She never liked that tone with Mina; it always spelled trouble.

"Have you been in contact with Midoriya lately?"

And there it was; Mina always knew how to make her feel antsy on the spot.

"On and off. He said he does a lot of test trails for support equipment. He reckons he'll be working nonstop in the next month."

"That's it? How boring…" Mina groaned.

"What were you expecting?" Ochako giggled.

"Maybe something along the lines of 'I miss you Ochako, I can't bear to be without you anymore!' or whatever."

Ochako rolled her eyes "Did you just hear yourself? That'll never happen. Besides, I have plans of my own that I want to achieve no matter what."

Mina somehow found herself resting upside down on her friend's sofa looking restless "Sorry, I know you don't want to talk about Deku, I'm just looking for a distraction because…"

"You miss Kirishima" Ochako concluded.

"Yeah… our agencies are going to be far from each other, and we'll only be able to hang out on some weekends if we're not working. Leave it to me to find a job in the furthest parts of Japan," Mina lamented.

"If it helps, every time I see him I'll make him miss you so much he'll want to visit you asap," she said trying to cheer her pink friend up.

"Thanks… now I think that mochi shop is calling me and I know it's doing the same for you!"

She loved Mina.

For the first time in Ochako's life, she got up at 6am without an alarm. She was just too excited to see her former mentor and get his opinion. He was the one who took her training and combat skills to a new level.

Ever since her first Sports tournament she couldn't stop craving the feeling of being powerful.

It was nearing the middle of summer and Ochako was dying from the heat, being a December-baby she really preferred colder weather. Which was one of the reasons why she wasn't sure how to appropriately dress in this weather when visiting her former mentor.

When she finally left the building she found that commuting to Gunhead's agency was pretty easy since it was only fifteen minutes away by bullet train.

Walking from the station she recalled the route she had taken to the agency during her internship. She finally reached his agency and entered the Dojo to see he was finishing up a class.

"Master!" she bowed in respect when Gunhead walked up to greet her.

"Whoa, whoa Ochako-san, I haven't been your master for over two years there no need-" Gunhead started to get frazzled and she thought she could see a blush on his mask for some reason.

'He's still cute!' she thought.

"But you helped me become the fighter I needed to be to progress! I really value the time and effort you spent helping me, please allow me to keep calling you my master" she bowed again.

The older hero stratched his neck bashfully "If you insist…"

'Cute!' she chimed again in her head.

Gunhead invited her into his office which surprisingly had a Japanese-styled furniture; including a low office table and a Kotatsu for guests. She sat down and received some green tea from her mentor.

"Now then, you said you wanted my advice?" Gunhead asked.

"Yes. I received some really good job offers as a sidekick and I'm not sure where I could thrive the most.

"You see, my goal is to be the number one rescue hero so I can earn plenty of money for my parents, but that isn't the main reason I want to be a recue hero…

"Um, I probably sound very shallow right now." Ochako rambled a bit flushing red.

"I think I know your character enough to know that's not true Ochako-san. It's very admirable to want to care for your family. And I certainly know you love being a hero for more than the perks," he assured her.

And she really did want to help them out. Despite her parents assuring her that they're doing fine, she knew that they will probably be working into their retirement years.

She knows how capable they are, but the money she earns could really help them in the future. It's the least she could do for them after supporting her going to U.A and her goal to become a hero. They were undoubtedly the best parents she could have asked for.

"As for where you should go, can you show me who's given you offers?" he asked, slipping a piece of paper and pen to her.

She jotted down the five offers she got and slid the paper back. The older hero gazed at it and sounded surprised "Oh wow, it's quite an impressive feat to have Ryuko offer you a sidekick position."

Ochako blushed "I interned for her a few times, so I'm pretty flattered she found me so useful."

"Ryuko usually finds reliable heroes to work and partner with her. It speaks to your character Ochako-san."

He was going to pick Ryuko, she could feel it.

"But, to be frank with you, I'm not sure it's the best place for you to thrive."

That took Ochako back.

"Don't get me wrong, you would do well, but you said you wanted to be the number one rescue hero. You might be fighting many potential heroes for that title in her agency, most of them specialize in rescue ops."

He had a point. During all the times she had interned for Ryuko, she noticed the number of rescue heroes climb exponentially in her agency alone.

Gunhead scanned the other agencies and made no comment on them, which made the Gravity manipulator feel nauseas.

"Ochako-san I would like to ask your permission for something." He politely asked.

"Um, sure?" she replied confused.

"May I recommend you to Best Jeanist's agency? We're good friends and I have a feeling you would really thrive as a rescue hero in his care."

That honestly took Uraraka by surprise. She was aiming for a well-known agency, but to work by the Number 3 hero's agency would be a dream come true for her!

"I would appreciate that really, but I wouldn't want to put you out like that."

He waved his hand dismissing her comment "You want to be the best right? I'll help in whatever way I can."

Gunhead asked her to wait in the dojo while he made the call to Best Jeanist.

Ochako felt goosebumps travel over her whole body, making her shiver. If she didn't know any better someone was dancing on her grave.

The thought of being a sidekick there never crossed her mind, but the more she thought about it the more excited the idea became.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Gunhead's office door opened.

He held out a piece of paper for her "He said to call him so he could inform you of the details of job." The older hero said with pride in his voice.

"Wait… I got the job already? How?! I thought there would be an interview, a test, something?"

"He said he remembers your quirk fairly well from the Sports festivals and he trusts my judgement of your character. He said he can only see if you have true potential in the field and that he'll see if you are worth having after a month."

Ochako gulped "He sure can sound like a scary man…"

Her former master put his hand on her shoulder for reassurance "I told him that you don't need a month to prove you belong there Ochako-san. Have faith in yourself and he will see your confidence."

She couldn't help but to hug the man in a tight squeeze "Thank you Master! I won't waste this opportunity!"

After the hero flailed cutely in embarrassment, Ochako departed and made her way home. The weather was nice enough so she decided she would go for a celebratory stroll to the mochi stand.

'Mmm… yeah Mochi sounds really good right now.' She just about drooled.

The shop was busy since it was rush hour, but Ochako lived close so she didn't mind.

What she did mind, however, were the people rude bumping her trying to squeeze in, she felt like she was going to be stepped on because she was the shortest by the stand.

"Oi Extras! If ya dare push me I'll blow you out of here!" an angry voice threatened.

'I know that voice.'

The threat worked, all the people stopped shoving and she managed to buy some strawberry ice-cream flavored mochi and walked out to search for the voice she heard.

"Oi Round-face what are you doing here?" the voice appeared behind her.

She nearly threw her mochi over her from the sudden scare.

"Bakugo?!" she yelped, turning around to see disgruntled face.

"Thanks for that unnecessary introduction. Again. Why are you here?"

She didn't usually get to see him outside of school back, so to see him look so casual was strange for her.

No doubt he had a unique style that worked for him, like his jeans that stopped by his ankles with a normal black t-shirt and ridiculously expensive sneakers. It was blazing hot outside and yet he didn't seem bothered by it.

"I wanted mochi, what other reason would I be here for?" she sarcastically replied gesturing to the mochi shop.

"Not what I meant. Out of all the mocha shops in Japan why are you at this one?" His annoyance grew.

Back in High school she would have awkwardly apologized and run off, but over the years she had grown a backbone dealing with villains on her internships, so an irritated Bakugo wasn't going to frighten her anymore.

She rolled her eyes "I live in that building over there," she pointed to the mediocre building peaking around the block.

"You're kidding," he deadpanned.

Her brows furrowed "What's your deal? What's wrong with me living there?"

"Forget it." He dismissed and just walked away from her.

She was insulted no doubt, but she felt like fighting him because of it. Leave it to Katsuki Bakugo to turn her mood upside down. Although she knew how to get back at him:

Follow him and irritate him to hell.

She sprinted to catch up to him "And why were YOU at that mochi shop? Ba-Ku-Go" she drawled.

"They make Spicy Mochi." He said lifting his packet.

"That's not what I meant," she used his words cheekily.

He stopped to glare at her. Normally if he tried that with anyone (besides that idiot Kirishima and annoying Todoroki) they would back off. Ochako almost did but she was having fun teasing him.

"Tch," he retaliated before continuing to walk.

"Oh come on Bakugo, you haven't seen me in about a month and the moment you see me you brush me off with a cold shoulder? So mean!" she fake-cried while walking behind him.

"Oi, I don't intend to speak to any of you extra's after high school so stop following me!" he yelled.

She stopped when she noticed he was about to enter the apartment building across from hers. She felt a weird spark of revelation flicker in her chest.

"We're neighbors?!" she yelled from a distance which made Bakugo panic and rush to her to put a hand over her mouth.

"Are you retarded?! Don't make a scene!" he yelled, making a scene of his own.

She shoved him off of her, "You don't have to be so rough! If you had just told me earlier I wouldn't have made a scene." She argued.

"Tch."

"You know I'm right," she sassed putting her hands on her hips in a bossy manner.

"Whatever," he shrugged her off.

She ignored the action, "So what agency are you going to work at then?"

"Like HELL I'd tell you. You already know too much."

And that was the end of their conversation. He walked inside his building with not even a glance or a goodbye.

She pretty much expected that from him, so her feelings weren't really hurt. Well, maybe a little. If she had to be completely honest, his opinion of her did matter.

And now they lived across the street from another, so they were most likely going to see each other now and then. She couldn't help but to want to talk to him more, especially since their last chat at UA where he rebuked and praised her at the same time.

Perhaps he could help her with hand-to-hand combat? That's only if he would agree, and the odds of that happening were slim.

Nonetheless, she wondered how they would interact from here on out.